Collar-supporter.



' PATENTED JULY 1, 1908. I F. A. BALLOU. COLLAR SUPPQRTBR, APPLICATION IILBD APR. 6. 1908.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FREDERICK A. BALLOU, OF PROVIDENCE, RHODE ISLAND.

COLLAR-SUPPORTER.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FREDERICK A. BAL- LoU, a citizen of the United States, residing at Providence, in the county of Providence and State ofRhode Island, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Collar-Supporters, of which the following is a specification, reference being had therein to the accompanying drawings.

Like reference letters indicate like parts.

Figure 1 is an end elevation of my im proved collar supporter. Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the same. Fig. 3 is the same as Fig. 1, except that it shows a spiral coil of wire at one end of the safety pin instead of a semi-circular bend. Figs. 4 and 5 illustrate patterns of said collar supporters, showin 10w the bar portion may be made broad an ornamented.

My invention relates to the class of collar supporters, intended for personal wear, to spread or extend transversely of the collar of lace or other soft material, fastened to the neckband of a ladys dress.

My improved collar supporter is made from a single piece of wire and comprises two safety pins united by an intermediate wire, all said parts being integral throughout their entire extent.

In the drawings A is a straight or bar portion of the collar. supporter. At each end of the portion A is a safety pin, comprising a pointed pin tongueB; the semi-circular bend C, or spiral coil C the pin body portion D the semi-circular bend E; the parallel short portion F, parallel with the portion D but of shorter extent; the transversely-directed U- shaped pin catch G; and the diagonally-directed arm or portion H, which at the bend I becomes continuous with the straight bar portion A. This collar supporter is made of resilient tempered wire. When the pin tongues B are free from the catches G, they extend in the directions indicated by the dotted lines in Figs. 1 and 2, respectively; but by the elasticity of the wire, each pin Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed April 6, 1908.

Patented July 21, 1908.

Serial No. 425,430.

tongue B, at or near its point, is engageable with the U-shaped pin catch G, and is then in a slightly bowedform. and held securely in said catch.

One pin tongue is fastened to the upper edge of the collar and the other pin tongue is fastened to the lower edge of the collar, the bar or straight portion A extending across the collar from top to bottom.

In Fig. 3 is shown a spiral coil C instead of the semi-circular bend C seen in Fig. 1. The spiral coil gives increased resiliency to the spring pin tongue B. In Figs. 4 and 5 are illustrated ornamental forms of said collar supporters. In Fig. 4 the stem or bar has an elongated elliptical shape A, and in Fig. 5 it has a broad flat shape, with parallel edges throughout nearly its whole extent, as seen at A, and covered with a suitable ornamentation. A great variety of patterns is possible. To form these I begin with the cylindrical metallic wire or bar A, and by the well known reducing ma chine hammer and flatten said wire to broaden and ornament the bar portion as shown at A in Fig. 4, and at A in Fig. 5.

I claim as a novel and useful invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent:

The improved collar supporter herein described, consisting of a metallic bar, having two safety pins at the opposite ends thereof,

respectively, each of which safety pins com prises the dia onally-extending portion H; the transverse y-directed U-shaped pin catch G, at the end of said portion H; the short straight portion F extending from the pin catch G; the bends E and C; the body portion D and the pin tongue B allof which portions are integral and said ortions B, C, E, F, G and H being cylindrica in cross section. In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

FREDERICK A. BALLOU. Witnesses:

ARTHUR P. JoHNsoN, HOWARD A. LAMPREY. 

